London, United Kingdom. The British Museum has secured a 24-carat-gold heart pendant linked to Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon for permanent display after raising 3.5 million pounds to prevent its sale to a private collector.
Acquisition and fundraising
The pendant, a gold heart bearing the couple’s initials in red and imagery including the Tudor rose and a pomegranate tree, was acquired after the museum raised 3.5 million pounds ($4.8 million). About 45,000 individuals donated 380,000 pounds, with additional funding provided by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and other trusts.
Half of the purchase price will go to the metal detectorist who found the item and half to the landowner.
Discovery under treasure laws
The pendant had been lost for hundreds of years before being discovered in 2019 by a metal detectorist in a field in Warwickshire. Under British treasure laws, museums across the country have the opportunity to acquire significant historical finds before they are offered for general sale.
Historical significance
The pendant is the only piece of jewellery still in existence from Henry’s 24-year marriage to Katherine. It features a banner reading “tousiors,” meaning “always” in old French.
British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said in a statement on Tuesday: “This beautiful survivor tells us about a piece of English history few of us knew, but in which we can all now share.”
Origins and later events
The pendant is believed to have been created in 1518 to celebrate the betrothal of Henry and Katherine’s daughter Mary to the French heir apparent.
Henry divorced Katherine in 1533 after falling in love with Anne Boleyn and seeking a male heir to secure the Tudor dynasty. He broke away from the Catholic Church to annul his marriage to Katherine.
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